Transgender People in Counseling Scrapbook

References

Transgender People in Counseling - Scrapbook

Counseling Considerations

• Transgender people experience the same mental health concerns as the general population but are exacerbated by violent experiences (Weir & Piquette, 2018)
• Transgender individuals represent a unique population whose voices are often lost within the LGBTQ community
• 37% of transgender individuals have experienced at least one physical attack since the age of 13 (Platt, 2020)
• Know several available resources with a wide range of treatment modalities to fit clients
• Understand systems and do the work beforehand so clients aren't having to teach us

Intersectionality

Background

• Armstrong, C. (2021, June 11). The trans history you weren't taught in schools. YES! Magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.yesmagazine.org/social-justice/2021/06/07/trans-history-gender-diversity
• Lefevor, G. T., Janis, R. A., Franklin, A., & Stone, W.-M. (2019). Distress and therapeutic outcomes among transgender and gender nonconforming people of color. The Counseling Psychologist, 47(1), 34–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000019827210
• Nadal, K. L. (2022, July). A State of Emergency: Advocating for Transgender People of Color. Microtraining Associates. New York.
• Platt, L. F. (2020). The Presenting Concerns of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Clients at University Counseling Centers. Counseling Psychologist, 48(3), 407–431. https://doi-org.libproxy.txstate.edu/10.1177/0011000019898680
• Weir, C., & Piquette, N. (2018). Counselling Transgender Individuals: Issues and Considerations. Canadian Psychology, 59(3), 252–261. https://doi-org.libproxy.txstate.edu/10.1037/cap0000129

• Transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, body dysmoprhia, and other disorders than cisgender individuals (Lefevor, 2019)
• From Lefevor (2019), TGNC peolpe are-
• 2x more likely than white cisgender individuals to be physically or sexually assaulted but TNGC people of color are 2.5x at risk
• 2x the national average for unemployment
• 97% of TGNC people of color report harassment at their job (Nadal, 2022)
• 19% of TGNC people of color have experienced housing insecurity (Nadal, 2022)
• Many within group microaggressions exist within the LGBTQ community and communities of color

Transgender:

• those who do not adhere to a gender binary
• those whose gender identity does not match their biological sex (Weir & Piquette, 2018)

Not new:

• existed in various cultures throughout history
• many had reverence for trans and nonbinary individuals as spiritual leaders (Armstrong, 2021)

Initially pathologized, but gender affirming surgeries and homone therapy developed in the 1920's and 1930's (Armstrong, 2021)

Transphobia still very present-

• feminist movements in the 1970's and 1980's
• DSM included gender dysphoria in the 1980's
• lesbian and gay groups start to include trans people in the 2000's

Research Findings

Andreanna Barley, Elyse Hall, Shekinah Wu, and Josh Yang

Stonewall National Monument

• Historical background
• Counseling considerations
• Intersectionality with trans people of color

Josh and Elyse attended the...

what did we do?

• Visited the historic Stonewall Inn and Stonewall National Monument
• Site of the 1969 Stonewall riots, in which LGBT bar patrons revolted against a discriminatory police raid and won
• Led to widespread mobilization and activism for LGBT civil rights

what did we learn?

• Many of the notable protestors were transwomen who went on to become life long activists
• The first PRIDE parade was celebrated a year after the Stonewall riot as a celebration of LGBT pride and progress
• Pride month is also celebrated in June to commemorate Stonewall

Our Experiences

Trans & Genderqueer

(TGQ) Social

Flyer from the event

• Colors of Pride Festival
• Hosted by QWELL
• June 25 at Mueller
• Trans & Genderqueer (TGQ) Social
• Monthly gathering Vortex
• Organized via Facebook
• Kind Clinic volunteer orientation
• Virtual interview with Miss Taiwan Allie Liao
• Transgender influencer
• Virtual one-on-one interview
• Risk Storytelling show
• Live show based on a podcast featuring Abby Jo Morris, a transwoman
• June 23 at Caveat in NYC
• Visiting the Stonewall national monument
• Historic site for LGBTQ rights
• June 23, Greenwich Village, NYC
• Independent research

what did we do?

We attended the TGQ Social on July 10 and made connections to people from the LGBTQ+ community, including the transgender population

what did we learn?

• Understand the history of the TGQ community in Austin
• Learn about how the community empowers each other
• Meet people from the community and get a chance to observe the culture and nuances

Risk Storytelling

what did we do?

We attended a live storytelling show showcasing Abby Jo Morris, a young transwoman, telling a story about how she related to her family differently after coming out

what did we learn?

• Saw how painful it can be as a trans person to come out to your family who doesn't understand the experience
• Inspired by the courage it takes to live in the world as an openly trans person and share your story
• Empathize and relate to Abby Jo, who shared what it feels like to have an important relationship rupture and not know if it will ever heal, to be an outsider or not be accepted, and to face the daily challenges that trans people face.

Volunteer Orientation with Kind Clinic

Interview with Allie Liao,

an Transgeder influencer, YouTuber, and the Miss Taiwan of Miss International Queen 2022

what did we do?

Kind Clinic primarily serves the LGBTQ+ community. We attended their volunteer orientation to assist with services including AIDS testing, gender affirming care, sex education, outreach, and counseling assistance.

what did we learn?

• Got to meet healthcare providers for the transgender community in the greater Austin area
• More exposure to various healthcare services that the transgender community might need
• How the transgender community might work together to help others with a marginilized identity

what did we do?

We interviewed Allie and foucesed on three parts:

• Understand her life experience and how she copes with difficulties
• Her experience of being Miss Taiwan, the motives, the difficulties and the coping strategies
• Her thoughts about counseling including educating the counselor, encouraging environment, counselors' identity

what did we learn?

• Understand her experience of being a trans and her beliefs
• Her quote “if you are a biological female and you don’t wear makeup, people will never discuss. But if you are a trans female and you don’t wear makeup and go outside, people will say you're a monster.”